Conductor of high negative temperature coefficient



Oct. 27, 1931. H. G. ANDRE 1,829,553

CONDUCTOR OF HIGH NEGATIVE TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT Filed April 30, 1928 INVBNTGK HEMP/ Awake Patented Oct. 27, 1 931 PATENT OFFICE HENRI G. ANDRE, 0F PARIS, FRANCE CONDUCTOR OF HIGH NEGATIVE TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT Application filed April 30, 1928, Serial No. 274,110, and in France June 17, 1927.

This invention relates to electrical conductors and especially to conductors of high neg ative temperature coefficient.

In my co-pending application, Serial Number 222,406, filed September 27, 1927, for Improved variable conductor of high negative temperature coeliiciont. I have disclosed a substance having such qualities formed by ensuring the supersaturation by sulphur or phosphorus of a metal having a great affinity for these substances, such as silver.

It has been found that such material has some disadvantages in use. WVhen a current is passed through the conductor, the sulphur permeates the contact pieces and sulphurets them, thus causing unstable losses at the ends of the conductor. It has also been found that in continued use the current tends to decompose the material along its longitudinal veins, and the current will be deflected into these veins, which are richer in metal than the remainder of the body of the conductor.

The object of the present invention is to make a conductor which will avoid the lat ter of these inconveniences. This is done by forming staggered slots transversely of the conductor and on opposite sides, so as to break the continuity of the longitudinal veins and prevent the flow of current along these veins.

Further objects and advantages of the in vention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

The drawing is a top plan view of the invention.

In the drawing, 1 represents the body of the conductor, formed of the supersaturated silver alloy described in my copending application. The body is preferably in the form of a flat bar to facilitate cooling. At each end of the body is a contact member, 2, 2'. made of material inert to sulphur. prefer ably carbon. These are held in place by bolts 3, 3 which pass through the plate and en gage similar contact members on the opposite side f. the. plate. These bolts may also be used hold an electrical conductor, such as a wire, in contact with the carbon.

Transverse slots 4, 4, placed alternately on opposite sides of the conductor and each extending more than half the width of the body serve to break the continuity of the trans verse veins.

Although I have described only one embodiment of my invention, I do not intend to be limited thereby except within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. An electrical conductor comprising a body portion of a metal supersaturated with a more fusible metalloid of the sulphur class, and meats for breaking the continuity of the longitudinal veins of said body portion.

2. An electrical conductor comprising a body portion of a metal supersaturated with a more fusible metalloid of the sulphur class, means for breaking the continuity of the longitudinal veins of said body portion, and contact members formed of a material inert to the metalloid. I

3. An electrical conductor comprising an elongated body portion of a metal supersaturated with a morefusible metalloid of the sulphur class, and staggered transverse notches provided in said body in order to break the continuity of the longitudinal veins thereof.

4. An electrical conductor comprising an elongated body portion of a metal supersaturated with a more fusible metalloid of the sulphur class, and staggered transverse notches provided in said body in order to break the continuity of the longitudinal veins thereof, said staggered transverse notches extendin alternately from opposite longitudinal sidies of said body over more than half the Width thereof.

5. An electrical conductor comprising an elongated body portion of silver supersaturated with sulphur, staggered transverse notches therein arranged alternately on the opposite longitudinal sides thereof and extending beyond the center of said body, and carbon contact members at the end of said body.

HENRI e. ANDRE. 

